FAQ
Is
there a legal requirement that schools filter the Internet?
Are there some resources for parents to read about Internet Filtering?
How does Internet filtering software work in FCPS?
Who decides what will be filtered?
Who is affected by FCPS Internet filtering policies?
Can
teachers/administrators have unblocked accounts that let them bypass/over-ride
the blocking and have access to an unfiltered site?
How does anyone know if the software is blocking
a site?
Can schools block/unblock sites?
Can
the filtering software block AOL-Instant Messenger?
Can the software block games and music files?
Can
individuals get e-mail at school? Are these sites blocked?
Are Chat rooms Blocked?
Does the software provide reports on sites visited/sites denied?
Whom do I contact, if I need more information?
What
is Internet Filtering?
""Internet filtering" represents good classroom management. Teachers and librarians have the primary responsibility to help students find appropriate resource sites on the World-Wide Web. This may mean that teachers use additional "tools" that they create, such as (1) lists or bookmarks for students to use to access specific web sites for a particular assignment or (2) personal web pages with links to specific sites for students to use for particular assignments. "Blocking" or "filtering" software is another type of tool. The WebSense software, selected by FCPS through a competitive proposal process, is a very sophisticated and flexible software program that runs on a server and blocks sites in categories identified by the State of Virginia as harmful to juveniles.
An Acceptable Use Policy AUP is in effect in all schools. Both the student and his/her parent/guardian must sign the Acceptable Use Policy before the student may use the Internet. Students and their Parents are informed that students are expected to exhibit responsible behavior when accessing the Internet. Teachers and librarians consistently deliver instruction throughout the year on responsible uses of the Internet as part of the curriculum--and clearly identify consequences for misuse.
Why
filter the Internet?
Current federal law Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA--passed in January 2001) requires that schools that receive funding via the E-rate must filter Internet content. In 1998, the FCPS School Board directed the school administration to implement a technology approach for blocking students from accessing inappropriate material on the Internet. The School Board has adopted Policy
6401 which governs student access to the Internet.
At this point in time there is no universal control over the content of the Internet. Connecting children to the Internet empowers and excites users, yet terrifies many people. For minimal amounts of money and expertise, anyone can put anything on the Internet. Online sex is a billion dollar business.
Arguments have been presented for and against the use of filtering software. Opponents of filters claim that use of filters infringes upon an individual's constitutional right to receive information. Those who favor using filtering software in K-12 schools defend their position by referring to the implied responsibilities schools have to serve as "in loco parentis." With the passage of CIPA, filtering is now required by law for K-12 schools.
Is
there a legal requirement that schools filter the Internet?
YES! New Federal Law. Children's Internet Protection
Act (CIPA). Passed January 2001.
Any school or library that receives discounted rates for Internet access,
Internet service or internal connections under the E-Rate program must
comply with CIPA. (FCPS received about $4.2 million in 2004 as
a result of E-Rate.) This means that schools must develop an Internet
Safety Policy and use "technology protection measures"
that block or filter Internet access to material that
is obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors, or that the local
school or library authority determines are "harmful to minors." FCPS
already has a policy, Policy
6410, that governs access to the Internet.
The
Children-s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) became law on April
21, 2000. This legislation has changed the way a number of organizations
and web sites do business with children.
No system is fail-safe, but COPPA attempts to place a
few road-blocks in place to prevent exploitation of children under 13.
COPPA is meant to protect e-mail addresses, school locations
and other data that could expose kids to marketers and group molesters.
Under the law, web sites are forbidden to collect personal information
from children without getting prior parental consent.
They must also disclose how they intend to use the data, once
they get it.
No matter what guidelines or software filtering packages are adopted by schools, teachers need to exercise good classroom management in supervising student access to the Internet. Parents also share responsibility with the schools in assuring that their children learn how to become responsible users of this medium.
What
material is filtered?
School
Board Policy 6401 sets forth those things that are considered inappropriate
for student access. Inappropriate content includes
content known to be obscene, harmful to juveniles, or child pornography
(as defined in the Code of Virginia), and content known to promote,
encourage, or provide the skills to commit illegal, criminal activities
(in accordance with Student Responsibilities and Rights).
Is
there any difference in policy for elementary, middle, and high school
students--and administrative centers?
Yes. Elementary filtering is much more restrictive
than that employed in middle and high schools--or in administrative
centers. The WebSense software groups sites with similar content
into categories. The FCPS curriculum committees determined which
categories to block based upon age-appropriate materials.
What
software does FCPS use?
WebSense is the filtering software used in FCPS.
Are there some resources for parents to read about Internet Filtering? Yes. This FAQ site answers many questions parents may have about Internet filtering in FCPS.
One
additional resource for parents concerned about their children using
the Internet is the "Parents Guide to the Internet,"
published by the U.S. Department of Education. It is available
on-line at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/internet/.
How does Internet filtering software work in FCPS?
- blocking/filtering software runs on servers in FCPS
- the vendor categorizes sites (e.g., "sex acts")
- the school system selects to block categories based on School Board policy
- the vendor updates server-based lists remotely every night
- category lists are owned by the Vendor. They are not shared with the users
- the vendor updates server-based lists remotely every night
- when someone tries to access a web site that is blocked because it is on the list on the server, the user will see a text message on the screen that gives the reason why the site is blocked. The message identifies the WebSense category that contains the selected website and sites the reason the site is blocked
- if a teacher/administrator/librarian locates an inappropriate site, there are procedures in place to block/unblock that site
- teachers, administrators, and school staff can obtain unfiltered access with permission of their supervisor.
Who decides what will be filtered?
- decisions are made in accordance with
Policy 6401, Regulations 6410, 3005, 3007, 3008 and 3009.
- only Instructional Services, through their curriculum committees, can determine which general categories to block.
- schools
are able to add/remove the URLs of specific sites from the selected
categories.
Who
is affected by FCPS Internet filtering policies?
Any Internet user in the school, including staff
How
does anyone know if the filtering software is blocking a site?
If WebSense is responsible for blocking access to a Web site,
users will see a screen appear that has the FCPS logo, and a message
stating "Access has been denied to...<<the site>>...in
accordance with Regulation
6410"
Can
teachers/administrators have unblocked accounts that let them bypass/over-ride
the blocking and have access to an unfiltered site?
Staff members are able to obtain an employee account that
will allow them to have unfiltered access via a "logon" signature.
Principal/Program Manager permission is required. Various support personnel
can assist with this process.
Can
schools block/unblock sites?
Yes. Schools can allow students to gain access to
a site that is blocked OR add sites to the list
of sites to which students are denied access. The software allows individual
schools (ES, MS, and HS) to have customized access lists that are unique
to their school. Technical support is available at each location.
Can
the filtering software block AOL-Instant Messenger?
WebSense blocks only "http" traffic. Instant Messenger
does not follow that protocol. Consequently it can not be blocked via
filtering software.
If schools want to have Instant Messenger blocked, that can be done at the school router. Schools would need principal permission.
Can
the software block games and music files?
Yes! On-line gaming has the potential to be a major "bandwidth-hog,"
as well as interfere with productive curriculum work. Music files generate
"bursty" traffic and generally require long download times.
It is true that some teachers use games as learning vehicles--or use them to reward performance, so FCPS does NOT ban games enterprise-wide.
In
Spring 2000, the Instructional Services Department curricular committee
gave school managers permission to selectively block audio and music
file extensions, as well as games. Individual schools, with principal
permission, can decide what sites to block or allow.
Can
individuals get e-mail at school? Are these sites blocked?
None of these sites are blocked by County Policy. Outlook
Exchange (FCPS e-mail product) does NOT go through the WebSense server.
It is possible to block individual e-mail sites, such as Yahoo-Mail, but Program Manager permission at a site is needed to block access.
Are
Chat rooms Blocked?
Chat Rooms are blocked by County Policy at the Elementary School
level.
Chat Rooms are NOT blocked by County Policy at the Middle School and High School levels or at administration sites. Individual schools, with principal permission may block specific chat room web sites.
If there is an article on a specific topic, e.g., about politics, that appears in a blocked site like Playboy, can teachers allow students access to that article?
Yes!
Teachers would need to have the exact URL for the specific pages
that they wanted students to view. This is the way WebSense works:
WebSense
looks for the most exact mach. Therefore access to a specific directory
would be permitted, while access to any other content from that domain
would still be denied.
Does
the software provide reports on sites visited/sites denied? Whom
do I contact if I need more information? IT Service Desk, (703) 503-1600. Email:
ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu
Yes, authorized users can get reports on sites visited/denied.
Dates, times, and IP addresses of computers requesting the site are
provided.
Curator: Laurie Mosher
Laurie.Mosher@fcps.edu
703-503-1600